The Christmas Break

I have had quite a relaxing Christmas - I've BEEN to a lot of church services but haven't had to do anything for the preparation of any of them since Thursday. I've EATEN a lot of meals but the cooking and washing up has been shared out within the extended family. I've suggested activities but since these have only consisted of which TV programme to watch or whether a walk up the hill or round the church would be most pleasant and since the people to whom the suggestions have been made have all been reasonable adults it can hardly be called party-planning.In fact the most stressful thing I've done for the whole extended weekend was to find a parking space in town for the rugby and once this had been done the match was extremely enjoyable.

It is with some guilt therefore that I reflect on how these three days have gone for friends and family who have not been in the position to drop everything else for a while and just eat, sleep and watch The Kings Speech on DVD. People whose daily lives, either in the short or long term, require the support of professionals, desperately need active intervention or respite or routine which isn't available over the Christmas break.

Services tend to be pared down to the bare minimum so that staff can also have a break. Doctors and nurses, social workers and teachers all need rest as much, if not more, than the rest of us so I fully understand why complete services cannot be continuous over the break. We are fortunate that there are at least emergency service around. Acute oncology wards have been operating - my daughter spent Christmas morning working in one. A&E and maternity have still been there - one brother in law was on a drip most of the day in one while another spent all afternoon and evening with his partner in the other waiting for the birth of their son. However those needing just slightly less acute services have had to wait, to beg or to go without. They've also had to go without the full support of informal networks be they on line or in person because people like me have been busy watching the telly or entertaining grandparents. For my part in this I apologise.

I have had a good break. I can come back from it refreshed, reinvigorated and certainly very well nourished. For those of you who didn't may you get the help you need now and let those of us who have a duty to stand up and shout when things are wrong know what we can campaign about while you get your chance to spend some time at the rugby or the fireside whichever is right for you.